PREGNANT while nursing student???

I'm just curious who has or is currently experiencing being pregnant while in nursing school. I am awaiting placement into a nursing program, either a 16-month accelerated RN program or the traditional 24-month, hoping to start in January. My husband and I have an itch to start making babies (we want 3 or 4) although we know it would be much "easier" to wait until I finish school. I work in a hospital as an ER tech and I've spoken with many nurses who have had young children while going through the program, and they've told me how tough it is but that if you're determined and focused, it CAN be done. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Hi there. I am not in the Nursing part of it yet, but I just had a baby last year. I started school in the Summer of 2004. I got pregnant that Winter and had my daughter (Amelia) last September. She'll be a year old in two weeks.

I just started back after taking the spring and summer off, but as long as you have the support of your husband and family, it can be done. You will obviously be spending a lot of time on your school work.

If you are determined to, you can do it! Good luck to you!!

Sep 1, '06

I also just wanted to say that when I had my daughter, I was taking two online courses. If you are able to do that if your having a baby in the middle of the semester, then do that. If not, it might be a little tricky. And if you have a baby while actually taking the nursing classes, that would make it really hard due to missing so much school.

I'd say planning ahead is the key here. Best of luck!! :wink2:

Sep 1, '06

I am also in the waiting process for programs but my boyfriend and I have decided to put off marriage and babies until I finish school. I understand where you are coming from in terms of the "itch" but as a health educator I would recommend that you wait. From what I hear nursing school is hard and it would be better to wait to have kids so that you can give them and yourself more quality time. Also I hear that you would limit yourself, because pregnancy is unpredictable, you may have to drop out for a while if you get sick while in the program. Good Luck with everything.

Sep 1, '06

My children are older (eight and four years old respectively) and I'm working on my pre-req's and co-req's right now but I thought I'd share my thoughts. I would definitely wait until after you've finished the program. You never know until after your pregnant if your pregnancy will be an easy one. Having a high risk pregnancy while attending nursing school wouldn't be a pleasant experience. That and think of the time that you may need to take off for your delivery. I do have a friend that missed the one allowed day for her LPN program to give birth. I can't imagine that would be a fun experience.

As far as having a small child while going through the program as long as you have an excellent support system you will be fine. It won't be the easiest thing that you've ever done but sometimes the best things in life are the most trying. Congratulations on reaching the point in your life where you are ready to start making babies. You have my best wishes for a fantastic career and a beautiful family. :wink2:

Sep 1, '06

I just started nursing school this week, and the faculty basically stated that you can only miss class if you're experiencing an excessive loss of blood, have visible bones poking out through your skin or if you're dead!!

Seriously, though...many classes have rather severe penalties for absences. There's a guy who is a senior and he and his wife are waiting until he is finished. I think this is a smart idea. I can tell already how busy I'm going to be. I have to read about 200 pages by Tuesday, for example!! I can't imagine having the additional responsibility of taking care of my health while pregnant (mostly because I'm a guy ) and eventually a newborn while in nursing school.

Sep 1, '06

Quote from lovinla23

I'm just curious who has or is currently experiencing being pregnant while in nursing school. I am awaiting placement into a nursing program, either a 16-month accelerated RN program or the traditional 24-month, hoping to start in January. My husband and I have an itch to start making babies (we want 3 or 4) although we know it would be much "easier" to wait until I finish school. I work in a hospital as an ER tech and I've spoken with many nurses who have had young children while going through the program, and they've told me how tough it is but that if you're determined and focused, it CAN be done. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

I had terriblel morning sickness with both of my babies, especially with the second one....it lasted 11 long and miserable weeks and I felt soooooo tired.
I would wait until after completing school.

Sep 1, '06

if you can I would wait. I was in school when I got pregnant with my dd and thought "I will go back full time and fly through" (I was in acupuncture school -- TONS of work), well, I never went back. actually, I went back for a couple semesters part time when she was about 6 months and realized I missed my dd too much. now she is 2 and I am back in school full time, although now for nursing, and I have TOTAL baby jones, but we will wait until I am done for any more. having said that, it has been done! just from my experience, it wouldn't be the BEST. although, you said you were waiting, if you 're going to have 4-5 months of nothing after the baby is born waiting to get into the program it might work.

Sep 1, '06

Today I found out I passed Nclex so it was a good day. What was NOT a good day were all the days I had morning sickness during two final semesters or when I went to the SNA convention vomitting everywhere. Being nine months pregnant and being asked to move a 200 lb person made me want to smack some people. My pregnancy was unexpected but honestly I think the staff and my peers were AWESOME to me. I had problems in the last semester with clinical because I would pass out if stood on my feet too long. My instructor actually caught me one time (an knowing her reputation I'm suprised she just didn't let me hit the ground) But she was VERY understanding and would let me take breaks and take the chart and go sit down if I was tired. I wouldn't suggest getting pregnant during school if you can avoid it but I really dont think it was bad at all. The hardest part of it was after I graduated when I was trying to study for NCLEX and watching a newborn at the same time. Not to mention your graduating photos dont come out to good when your as big as a house. But Looking back I dont regret it all. I was actually not even the only girl nine months pregnant in my nursing clinical group. An I would really have to say being around a bunch of caring, compassionate, and highly resourceful(my friend used to keep a emegency chocolate bar in case I got hungry) group of student nurses was wonderful. Writing this makes me miss everyone, they treated me like a queen. But luckily for me I didnt have to miss any school, morning sickness or not, I was always there and had no major complications. :wink2:

Sep 2, '06

Honestly, having been through 2 pregnancies, I can't imagine doing that. First trimester is very exhausting. You have NO energy even if you are blessed not to have morning sickness. I have worked with people who were pregnant and literally fell asleep at their desks. When I was pregnant I was not working but I used to go to bed at 7PM and that's after taking a nap after lunch.

If you do have morning sickness, smells will make you vomit-- not just in the morning-- and I imagine that with nursing you will be dealing with a lot of smells and icky stuff. (When I was pregnant with my second I vomited alongside a mother giving birth! I was a doula at the time. That was embarassing!)

You never know about how the pregnancy will go, either. Most likely it will be a healthy pregnancy but it could be that you will have problems: pre-e sneaks up on women who were previously healthy, for example. My second baby was hard. I had preterm labor starting at 23 weeks and was put on full bedrest until 35 weeks. I had to drop out of life basically.

I just would hesitate because if you have problems in the pregnancy you will have to put everything else on hold.

Last edit by AmericanChai on Sep 2, '06

Sep 2, '06

I wasn't planning on it, but I just found out that I'm pregnant - 2 weeks into my first semester of nursing school. I know it's going to be tough and already, I can feel the negative effects of pregnancy (morning sickness, fatigue, etc.) If you can, I'd wait until school is over. School is stressful enough, but I have a 3 y/o and now a baby on the way. (Don't get me wrong, I am happy, but I do know how hard it's going ot be.)

Sep 2, '06

Quote from Nurse-To-Be-Joy

I wasn't planning on it, but I just found out that I'm pregnant - 2 weeks into my first semester of nursing school. I know it's going to be tough and already, I can feel the negative effects of pregnancy (morning sickness, fatigue, etc.) If you can, I'd wait until school is over. School is stressful enough, but I have a 3 y/o and now a baby on the way. (Don't get me wrong, I am happy, but I do know how hard it's going ot be.)

Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and of course a healthy beautiful baby. :wink2: